Improvement in incubators



E. S. RENWICK. INCUBATOR.

No. 193,616. Patented July 31,1877.

NFETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHXNGTON: D C.

4 Sheets -Sheet1.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

E. S. REN-WICK.

INCUBATOR.

No. 193,616. Patented July 31,1877.

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAFNER, WASHINGTON 5 .C.

To all whom-it may concern EDWARD S. RENWIOK, OF MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY.

'IMPROVEMENT IN INCUBATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.5l93,616, dated July 3 1, 1 877 application filed March -7, 1877.

Beit-k'uown that I, EDWARD SABINE BEN-l WICK, of Millbnrn, in the county of Essex;

and State of New Jersey,.have made an in vention of certain new and useful vImprovements in Incubators; and that the-following .is a full, clear, and exact description and specificationof the same.

The requisites of an incubator arearegula-r heat, thorough ventilation, and .a supply of moisture; and the object of the present invention isto attain these requisites.

To this end theinvention consists of certain combinations of instrumentalities, of which the following are the principal---viz: The incubating-chamber, within whichthe eggs are placed. One or more egg-holders to hold the eggs to be-hatched, and enable them to be manipulated readily. ,These egg-holders may 7 have either theform of drawers or of-stationary shelves orracks.

One ormore heaters, in which warm water orother fluid maybe caused to circulate for the purpose-of transmittingheat to the incubating-chamber. .One

or more flues, by meansof which heat may be applied to the incubating-chamber from a lamp or other sourceot' heat. One or more waste-heatrchimneys for conducting fi' the heat from the lamp or other source of heat when it is desired that the heat shall not operate upon the incubating-chamber with its full force. One or more air-supply pipes .or

, 'tlues, by means of which air from the atmosphere may be introduced 'for ventilation into;

(01 valves) ,is applied, by preference, to ,the

ventilating chimney or opening; but it;or they may be applied to the supply-pipesif deemed'best. Oneor moreelevated watertrays .or other moisture-suppliers, by means of which moistnreican be suppliedat the upper partiof the incubating cliamber. One or more under water-trays, or theirequivalents,

atthe lower part of the incubating-chamber,-

by meansof which water dripping fromelevated water-trays, or their.equivalents,may be collected. A drain vpipe or pipes for conducting any excessof water ,from the incuhating-chamber.

-It has been found expedient to use the heaters, egg-holders, flues, waste-heat chiur- .neys, ventilating-fines, water-tray s, andv drainpipes in pairs, the members of which are arranged to the right and left hand of thelongitudinal center, or thereabout,,of the incubating-chamber; but the duplication of any of thedevices is not ,an essential partof the in vention, unless it bespecially claimed.

The several combinations of the aboveinstrumentalities, which constitute the invention, are set forth at the close of this specification. W hen theentire invention is used the said instrumentalities are so combined that the heat may either be supplied to the incubating-chamber or allowed to waste, according as the temperature is to be raised or lowered; also, thatthe ventilatioittakes place in a downward direction in the incubatingchamber, the practical advantage of which is that the air in the. chamber moves downward practically uniform throughout the horizontal areas of the incubating-chamber, and that cross-drafts areprevented in whole or in part; also, thattheimoisture is supplied at theupperportion of the incubating-chamber,

Where it is most likely to saturate the air on account of the greater temperature at that portion and that the moisture .passesdownd erstood, .1 have represented in the accompanying drawings, and will proceed toldescribe, an incubator embodying my invention in the best form at present devised by me.

Figure 1 of said drawings represents a front view of the said incubator. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section of the same at the line a: a: of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the same at the line a; m of Fig. 2. I Fig. 4 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a transverse section of the same at the line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a similar transverse section at the line 12 'v of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 represents a top view of the said incubator. Fig. 8 represents a central vertical transverse section of the same with a chicken-holder on top. Fig. 9 represents a central longitudinal section of a modified form of incubator embodying parts of the invention. Fig. 10 represents a central section of a modified form of moisture-supplier.

The incubating-chamber A A of the said incubator is fitted with two egg-drawers, B B, which, in this example, constitute the eggholders, and should have bottoms m, composed of wire-cloth, so that the air may circulate through the drawers from the upper part A of the incubating-chamber (or the part thereof above the egg-holders) to the lower part A of the incubating-chamber, or that part which is below the egg-holders.

The bottom of these egg-holders should be fitted with slats or other means of preventing the eggs from rolling about, or should have the form of a series of troughs, in which the egs may lie in parallel rows.

As I prefer to distribute the heat in this incubating-chamber by means of a current of warm water, a waterheater, O, is arranged within the chamber, and it is constructed by preference in the form of an oblong ring surrounding the top, bottom, and sides of the egg-holders. The heat is applied to one end, 12, Fig. 4, only of this heater, and the warm water rising in that end and moving into the top w circulates round through the heater in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 4, to the bottom of the heated end, and rises again therein as it receives heat. As the heat is applied most conveniently to one end only of the heater, it is preferred to use two heaters for the incubating-chamber, each heater being independent of the other, and to arrange the heated ends of these heaters at the opposite Ends of the chamber, so as to equalize the eat.

It is also preferred to make the upper longitudinal portion w of the heater inclined; but this is not essential. If the inclination be in a direction downward from the heated upright end b, the warm water is brought closer to the eggs beneath as the temperature of the water decreases by radiation, which tends to equalize the temperature.

The heat is generated conveniently by means of alamp,Done for each heater. The heated gases from the lamp are conducted through a tubular flue, d, which is passed through the heater and through the top f of the incubating-chamber, so that the heated gases may impart heat to the water in the heater, and may then escape. The kind of lamp which has been used with success is a kerosene'lamp, with a burner of the usual construction, and with a short chimney, g, communicating with the lower end of the flue d. The lamp-chimney may be made of sheet metal, with a small pane of mica, so that the condition of the flame may be seen.

In order thatthe heat by the flue (1 may be controlled, 3. waste-heat chimney, I, is provided for each flue. The chimney is by preference located within the flue d, and centrally thereof, it being supported by spring-brackets e, which bear upon the wall of the flue with sufficient friction to hold the chimney in place.

At the top of this chimney there is a valve,-

E, which is fitted to turn upon a shaft, F. When this chimney-valve is closed the hot gases from the lampare prevented from passing through the waste-heat chimney I, and consequently pass along the walls of the flue d, and impart heat to the incubating-chamber. When the valve E is open the hot gases from the lamp pass through the waste-heat chimney I and escape, so that the heat wastes in whole or in part without increasing the terperature of the incubating-chamber.

In order that the incubating chamber may be ventilated with warm air, a supply-pipe, J, is provided for each heater, such pipe being passed through the descending end b thereof, and communicating at its lower end with the external air through a hole in the bottom of I the incubating-chamber. The upper end of this ventilating-pipe discharges the air into the upper part A of the incubating-chamber, and as the pipe is surrounded by the warm water in the heater, the air which is supplied -to the incubating-chamber by this pipe J is warmed before escaping into the chamber, so that the pipe is a warm-air-snpply pipe. In order that the incubating-chamber may be ventilated with fresh air, which is not warmed artificially, a ventilating air-pipe, J, is provided at each end of the incubating-chamber. Each of these cold-air pipes receives the air at its lower end, and discharges the air at its upper end into the upper part A of the incubating-chamber.

In order that the foul air in the incubatingchamber may be discharged a ventilating pipe or chimney, G, is provided. This chimney is connected at its lower end with the lower part A of the incubating-chamber, the connection in this example being made through the intervention of a chamber, H, which is arranged between the two egg-holders B B, and forms the entrance to the ventilating-chimney, the

said chamber being closed at its sides and top, but open beneath. Hence, the air which passes from the incubating-chamber is taken from the lower part A thereof, while, as above stated, the fresh air is discharged into the inpracticed.

The small chamber H is constructed, by preference, of the whole breadth of the incubating-chamber from front to rear, and as there is a current of air through it from the incubatingchamber outward the temperature in this small chamber varies with that of the incubating-chamber; hence, this small chamber is well adapted to hold the thermostat or thermometer which is used to regulate the temperature of the incubator, and it is designated the thermostatic chamber.

In order that the ventilation of the incubating-chamber may be controlled the ventilating-chimney G is fitted with a valve, K, which may be opened more or less.

In practice it has been found best to make the ventilating-valve K either smaller than the ventilating-chimney, or .with a central hole in it, so that the ventilation is never wholly stopped. I

In order that the incubating-chamber may be supplied with moisture, the water-tray M is arranged in the upper part A thereof over each egg-holder. Each of these traysis fitted with sponges, and each tray is supplied, through a short tube or nozzle, t, with water from a water-bottle, N, on top of the incubator, the supply being controlled by a stopcock, h.

In practice it has been found expedient to run lamp-wick through the passage ofthe stopcock and its key, so that the water may be allowed to drip drop by drop, and the greater or less speed of the supply can be regulated by turning the key of the stop-cock more or less so as to compress the lamp-wick accordingly.

Each water-tray is provided, by preference, with an overflow-pipe, 71, whose upper end is raised above the bottom of the tray, but is lower than the upper edge thereof, so that sponges are always lying in water.

By supplying moisture at the top of the incubating-chamber where the heat is greater than it is at the egg-holder, the air can be more highly charged with moisture, and consequently there is less risk of the eggs becoming dried by the heat.

In order that the surplus water which drips from the elevated water-trays M may be collected, a water-tray, P, is arranged in the lower part A of the incubating-chamber under each egg-holder. As the bottoms of the egg-holders are formed of wire-cloth, the dripping water can pass through these bottoms to the under water-trays P P.

It is preferred to make these under watertrays of large horizontal area, so that if an egg should be rotten and should burst, its contents may be caught in the water-tray be-- neath. It is also preferred to construct each under water-tray with an overflow or drip pipe, 8, whose upper end is raised above the bottom of the tray, but is lower than the upper edge thereof, so that 'a layer of water is maintained in the tray. These under trays may be furnished with sponges to supply moisture by evaporation to the lower part of the incubating-chamber.

The bottom of the incubating-chamber is fitted with one or more drain-pipes, B, so that any surplus water that may escape from the overflow-pipes of the under water-trays may be conducted out of the incubating-chamber. An opening, closed by a door, S, also, is provided in the front of the incubating-chamber, and opposite each under water-tray P, so as to permit it to be readily entered into and withdrawn from the incubating-chamber.

A piece of sponge may be inserted in each drain-pipe It, or in the'conical mouth thereof, to prevent the access of air while permit-ting the escape of water; or the lower end of the drain-pipe may either dip into a pan of water, or have a trap upon it for the same purpose.

The incubator thus described is well adapted to being automatically regulated by means of a thermostat placed in the thermostatic chamber H, and connected with the escapement of a valve mechanism operated by a Weight or by a spring, the connection being such that, when the heat rises to a certain predetermined limit, the valve mechanism shall be permitted to move sufficiently to open the chimneyvalves and permit the heat of the lamps to waste in whole or in part; and, on the other hand, when the heat falls to a certain predetermined limit, the valve mechanism shall be permitted to move sufficiently to close the chimney-valves, and thus compel the heat from the lamps to act upon the incubatingchamber.

In order that both the chimney-valves (when two are used) and the ventilating-valve may be operated simultaneously, the three are connected with one shaft, F,which, in this case, is extended diagonally across the top of the incubating-chamber, so that the turning of this shaft a quarter of a revolution opens or shuts all three valves.

The incubating-chamber may be constructed mainly of wood; but it is expedient that those parts, w, of its bottom which are near the lamps should be made of sheet metal, so as to obviate danger from fire. It is also expedient to guard the openings made in the top of the incubator for the passage of the flues d with plates w, of sheet metal, fitting closely to the fiues.

The water-heaters, flues, air-supply pipes, and ventilating-pipe are most conveniently made of sheet metal-such, for example, as galvanized iron.

When the above-described incubator is in operation there is a constant current of fresh 'air downward in the incubating-chamber,

foul air is strongest when the ventilatingvalve K is open, the fresh air at that time is supplied both by the cold-air pipes J and by the hot-air pipes J. When, however, the ventilating-valve is shut, a less quantity of fresh air is required to supply the incubatingchamber; and as the fresh air tends to rise in the hot-air pipes J (by reason of the draft through them) more rapidly than it does in the cold-air pipesT, the supply of fresh air then takes place mainly through the former. If, however, the whole invention is not to be used, either kindof air-supply pipes may be omitted, as well as other parts of the invention. It, for example, it be deemed best to apply the heat of the incubating-chamber without water-heaters, the flues 01 may be conducted directly through the chamber, and, if deemed advisable, may be made zigzag, so as to afford a large radiating-surface or the hot air from the lamps, or from steam-pipes, may

be conducted directly into the incubatingchamber. In such cases the waste-heat pipes may be suitably arranged to permit the heat to waste according to the mode of heating used, because although the arrangement of the waste-heat chimney centrally within the flue is the most convenient one when a lamp is used as the source of heat, yet this arrangement is not essential.

One mode of direct heating which may be adopted is represented at Fig. 9, in which the several parts of the incubator are designated by the same letters as the corresponding parts in the preceding figures. In this case the flue d discharges the hot air near the top of the incubating-chamber, so that it operatesboth as the warm-air pipe for supplying air for ventilation and as the flue for the heat, and it is the equivalent of each of those represented in the previous figures. This flue may be forked or Y-formed, so as to distribute the heat toward the front and rear of the incubating-chamber or the flue may consist of a lateral chamber, made by extending the adjacent drawer-slide downward, as indicated by the dotted lines at a, so as to form a partition.

' When the heating is effected directly in the manner thus indicated the fumes of the lamp will pass into the incubating-chamber. This may be avoided either by extending the flue d, Fig. 9, directly upward through the top of that chamber, or by connecting the upper end of the flue with a pipe extending nearly horizontally through the upper portion of the incubating-chamber, and having its end turned upward through the top thereof, so that a larger radiating-surface will be attained. In either of these last two cases, if ventilation is to be properly preserved, a separate air-pipe should be provided to supply the air for that purpose.

Two egg-holders, arranged at opposite sides of a central ventilating-chimney and thermostatic chamber, may, of course, be used in connection with any one of the above plans.

In practice it has been found convenient to construct a chicken-holder (for newly-hatched chickens) upon the top of the incubator, and to make a break in the ventilating-chimney, so that the chicken-holder may be heated by the heat of the air passing from the incubator. Such an arrangement is represented at Fig. 8, where the chicken-holder S is a drawer, with a wire-cloth back, 1', to permit the warm air to pass through it. If this chicken-holder be omitted, the chimney Gr may extend as represented in dotted lines at G.

The forms of the water-heaters may be greatly varied. Thus, there may be but one heater, and it may be flat, and in the upper part of the incubating-chamber; or the part of the heater to which the heat of the lamp is applied may be outside of the incubatingchamber, and this exterior part may be connected with the interior heater by circulating In practice it has been found convenpipes. ient to support each lamp upon a movable platform, T, raised or lowered by a screw, 1, and to make the lamp-chimney g slip either over or within the lower end of the flue d, so as to make a tolerably close joint therewith. The lamp-support can then be readily raised or lowered, so that its chimney may be connected with or disconnected from the flue d. An incidental advantage of a close connection between the lamp-chimney and the flue is that, inasmuch at the draft is stronger when the waste-heat chimney I is operating-that is, when the chimney-valve is openthe practical effect of the increased strength of the draft is to cut down the flame of the lamp, so that the opening of the waste-heat valve E not only permits heat to waste, but incidentally reduces the volume of the flame of the lamp.

The chimney-valve need not necessarily be arranged as shown in the drawing at the outlet of the waste-heat chimney, as it may be arranged at its lower end, or in such manner that it changes the direction of the current of hot air from operating upon the incubatingehamber to passing through the waste-heat chimney, and vice versa. The valve also may be of another form than that of a disk turning on a diametrical axis.

In place of making the elevated moisture suppliers in the form of trays, a suspended sponge or other evaporator may be used as an equivalent. A convenient mode of applying a sponge for this purpose is represented at Fig. 10, where the sponge is at the mouth of the short pipe t, through which the water is allowed to drip to supply the sponge.

If the elevated water-tray is used without the under water-tray, the portion of the drainpipe R within the incubating-chamber may be arranged to receive the surplus water directly from the elevated water-tray. For this purpose the drain-pipe may either be con structed with a funnel-mouth arranged beneath the overflow-pipe of the elevated wator-tray, or the drain-pipe may be extended upward in the incubating-chamber, and bent,

if necessary, so as to connect with the lower end of the said overflow-pipe.

. Each water-heater 0 should be fitted with a nozzle, m, to permit water to be poured into it, and with a drain-nozzle, n, provided with a flstop-cock to permit the water to be drained 0 Each egg-drawer also should be provided with a thermometer, whose tube may be extended through the front of the drawer, and there fitted with a scale running from about 90 to 120, so as to indicate the heat within the drawer.

If the thermostatic chamber is not used, the lower end of the veutilatingchimney should be extended downward to the level of the under side of the egg-holders, or some- I what lower.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, the egg-- holders, the heat-flue, and the waste-heat chimney.

2. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, the eggholder, the heat-flue, the waste-heat chimney, and the chimney-valve.

3. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubat-ingchamber, the eggholder, and the air-pipe, arranged tosupply air into the upper part of the incubating-chamher.

4. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, the holder, and the ventilating-chimney, arranged to discharge the air from the lower part of the incubating-chamber.

5. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, the eggholder, the ventilating-chimney, arranged to discharge air from the lower part of said chamber, andtheventilating-valvewhich regulates such discharge.

6. The combination, substantially as before der water-tray.

9. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, the eggholder, the ventilating-chimney, and the thermostatic chamber, whereby the air escaping from the incubating-chamber is caused to pass through the thermostatic chamber.

10. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, two eggholders, the thermostatic chamber, arranged between the said two egg-holders, and the ventilating-chimney, communicating with said thermostatic chamber. I

11. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, the eggholder, and two independent heaters, having their ends which receive heat arranged at the opposite ends of the incubating-chamber.

12. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the incubating-chamber, the eggholder, the water tray, and the drain-pipe, whereby surplus water is conducted from the incubating-chamber.

Witness my hand this 2d day of March, A.

E.:S. RENWIOK. Witnesses:

W. L. BENNEM,

W. H. IsAAos, 

